NEED FOE ACTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 156, 1 June 1940, Page 9

NEED FOE ACTION.

WITH STRONG HEAD. MR COATES’S OPINION. WELLINGTON, June 1. Declaring that what the country demanded to-day was that those who could serve it best should be in control of its affairs, -Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Opposition, Ivaipara) appealed for Ihe subordination of partisan interests in view of the common danger and the need for a united national effort. “Why should we waste time talking about what' has happened in the past,” said Mr Coates when referring to the fact that some members of the Government had taken exception to the recent mass meetings held throughout the Dominion demanding an intensification of the war effort. “I am confident these meetings were the outcome of feelings of anxiety, because it may be that the Government has not been able to' give sufficient of a lead to satisfy the people.” The Prime Minister: I said I realised there was deep concern in the hearts of the people. Mr Coates: Well, I can’t understand why anyone should think the meetings were of a hostile character. Mr Fraser: I didn’t say that. I said there were certain persons who were trying to use the feeling of the people for their own ends. .1 respect tlie others. The Prime Minister had done a tremendous amount of good work, since the war broke out, Mr Coates added, but now we had reached a crisis calling for the best in every man and woman, and the people were calling for a clear and definite load rising above all stupid individual differences. “We have got to get pretty close together,” he said, “and get on with what the people want—tlie mobilisation of all our resources, human and . material. To do that we must have a united front. That is absolutely necessary if we are to do our best as men with the responsibility of protecting our shores and people as well as keeping our front line trenches supplied. It doesn’t just centre around whether there should be a War Council or not.”

Mr J. W. Munro (Government, Dunedin North) ? Or a National Government? “Call it what you like,”. Mr Coates replied. “When Ministers have been in office for sonic time it is not impossible that they should get into a groove. I know from experience that after a few years in office a man’s min'd is possibly not -so receptive to changing ideas as that of a man who is moving about more. It is essential —and- the people are asking for it—that, the men who can give the greatest service should be in charge. They may be changed from time to time, because no man would want to stay in office if there was another who could give better service, but the decision rests with the Government and the Government alone. All the Opposition can do is to indicate that it is ready to play its part, whether inside or outside of the Government. “Nothing should stand in the \ way of the army having its head immediately, because to-day Army Headquarters should be .'supreme,” said Air Coates, when urging complete national unity and the building up of a large force of men for home defence as well as overseas service.